MEE comments about this blog

GREETINGS TO ALL OF YOU THERE IN “READERLAND”

WHEEEE!

I have NO idea if anyone’s checking or reading this Blog, but I wanted to assure you that I’m still working on finding a way for your to sign up to receive notice of new postings (IF you want … you can always cancel). I’m still “home-bound” (due to hideous air quality in our area), so I’m posting something every day. That won’t keep happening (at least I hope the air quality will improve so I can be out and about), but for now I’m enjoying it. Those who know mee know I love to write. I feel like a quote from Flannery O’Connor: “I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.” Writing things down is a great way to find out what I’m thinking about and to feel like I’ve “captured” some of my thoughts, experiences, ideas, ETC. (LOTS of ETC!) I like having different categories – that way it isn’t one mile-long blog of stuff, but different topic headings so you can hopefully find something you like, something interesting, something which will help you have a good day and some things which will cause you to think, to ponder. I don’t know how many are taking a look, but I say again that I welcome comments, suggestions.  Thanks for visiting! Love, MEE

Acronyms!

HappySunshine

My son’s a CTR. . . . . . I go to PEC.

I work for CES . . . . I study the TG.

I read the B of M . . . I probe the D & C.

I search the KJV. . . and research JST.

Today in BYU . . . . . we planned for EFY.

I stayed a little after, and had a PPI.

The YM and YW . . . . are putting on a play.

It’s the one that I remember . . . it was done in MIA.

Before our eldest son . . . . went to the MTC,

He helped the BSA . . . . complete their SME.

Soon our eldest daughter . . . is heading for the Y,

Soon our oldest clothing . . . . is going to DI.

Now, if you’ve understood . . . . this alphabetish mess

The Evidence is pretty good . . . that you are LDS

Am I a BLOGERIST?

shellsmarblesstampscoins

 

I learned that there are names for people who collect things.  For example, someone who collects bird’s eggs is a Dologist. I didn’t know that!  Did YOU know that? Someone who collects postcards is a Deltiologist (I was that – without knowing what to call it—for a few years). Shells? Conchologist (I kind of “get” that one). Teddy Bears? Archtophilist (that’s hard to say when I have my retainer in). Butterflies? Lepidopterist.  I’m noticing they’re all “ists!”  You’re an IST!  Stamps: Philatelist (I could almost have come up with that one, and I do qualify). Coins: Numismatist (sounds like the name of an ancient philosopher). Dolls: Plangonologist. Subway tokens (ha!): Vecturist. That reminds me that we used to tell the brand new missionaries in Hong Kong that if they saved their bus tickets they’d eventually get a partial refund for all they’d spent. It wasn’t true, but some sure had a HUGE collection before they found out they’d been tricked. But back to the lists (I know this is SO enjoyable!). Recipes: Receptarist. Autographs: Philographist. Key rings: Copoclephilist. And here’s another one that I can easily be called: Bibliophilist. Some of you already know what this is (it’s one of the easier ones): Books!  I have HUNDREDS of books! Even with all the HUNDREDS I’ve given to D.I.!! Someone out there (reading this) is going to make up some names of other collectors. 4-leaf clovers. Toothpicks. Rocks (I was one of those as a kid, and my Auntie Ida gave me a wonderful book that would help me identify every single rock I had). Pigs (ha ha… swineist? …GOT YOU, FEI!). Marbles (don’t lose ‘em!.. except that I have lost my marbles… they were in an ammunition container thingie that my Daddy gave me, and somehow they got lost on the move from Cedar City to Mapleton….) Grocery bags (I can’t really comment on that one without revealing an OCD thing which Fei forgot to mention… yet). Shoes (think Imelda). OK… I’m done (and you were probably done after a few sentences, eh?) But if you come up with some, I’d love to hear about them!

The False Gods We Worship

Spencer W. Kimball

THE FALSE GODS WE WORSHIP

By President Spencer W. Kimball

Spencer W. Kimball, “The False Gods We Worship,” Ensign, Jun 1976, 3

I have heard that the sense most closely associated with memory is the sense of smell. If this is true, then perhaps it explains the many pleasing feelings that overtake me these mornings when I am able to step outdoors for a few moments and breathe in the warm and comfortable aromas that I have come to associate over the years with the soil and vegetation of this good earth. Now and then, when the moment is right, some particular scent — perhaps only the green grass, or the smell of sage brought from a distance by a breeze — will take me back to the days of my youth in Arizona. It was an arid country, yet it was fruitful under the hands of determined laborers. We worked with the land and the cattle in all kinds of weather, and when we traveled it was on horseback or in open wagons or carriages, mostly. I used to run like the wind with my brothers and sisters through the orchards, down the dusty lanes, past rows of corn, red tomatoes, onions, squash. Because of this, I suppose it is natural to think that in those days we were closer to elemental life.

Some time ago I chanced to walk outdoors when the dark and massive clouds of an early afternoon thunderstorm were gathering; and as the large raindrops began to drum the dusty soil with increasing rapidity, I recalled the occasional summer afternoons when I was a boy when the tremendous thunderheads would gather over the hills and bring welcome rain to the thirsty soil of the valley floor. We children would run for the shed, and while the lightning danced about we would sit and watch, transfixed, marveling at the ever‑increasing power of the pounding rainfall. Afterward, the air would be clean and cool and filled with the sweet smells of the soil, the trees, and the plants of the garden. There were evenings those many years ago, at about sunset, when I would walk in with the cows. Stopping by a tired old fence post, I would sometimes just stand silently in the mellow light and the fragrance of sunflowers and ask myself, “If you were going to create a world, what would it be like?” Now with a little thought the answer seems so natural: “Just like this one.”

So on this day while I stood watching the thunderstorm, I felt — and I feel now — that this is a marvelous earth on which we find ourselves: and when I thought of our preparations for the United States Bicentennial celebration I felt a deep gratitude to the Lord for the choice land and the people and institutions of America. There is much that is good in this land, and much to love.

Nevertheless, on this occasion of so many pleasant memories another impression assailed my thoughts. The dark and threatening clouds that hung so low over the valley seemed to force my mind back to a theme that the Brethren have concerned themselves with for many years now — indeed a theme that has often occupied the attention of the Lord’s chosen prophets since the world began. I am speaking of the general state of wickedness in which we seem to find the world in these perilous yet crucially momentous days; and thinking of this, I am reminded of the general principle that where much is given, much is expected. (See Luke 12:48.)  The Lord gave us a choice world and expects righteousness and obedience to his commandments in return. But when I review the performance of this people in comparison with what is expected, I am appalled and frightened.  Iniquity seems to abound. The Destroyer seems to be taking full advantage of the time remaining to him in this, the great day of his power. Evil seems about to engulf us like a great wave, and we feel that truly we are living in conditions similar to those in the days of Noah before the Flood.

I have traveled much in various assignments over the years, and when I pass through the lovely countryside or fly over the vast and beautiful expanses of our globe, I compare these beauties with many of the dark and miserable practices of men, and I have the feeling that the good earth can hardly bear our presence upon it. I recall the occasion when Enoch heard the earth mourn, saying, “Wo, wo is me, the mother of men; I am pained, I am weary, because of the wickedness of my children. When shall I rest, and be cleansed from the filthiness which is gone forth out of me?” (Moses 7:48.)

The Brethren constantly cry out against that which is intolerable in the sight of the Lord: against pollution of mind, body, and our surroundings; against vulgarity, stealing, lying, pride, and blasphemy; against fornication, adultery, homosexuality, and all other abuses of the sacred power to create; against murder and all that is like unto it; against all manner of desecration.  That such a cry should be necessary among a people so blessed is amazing to me. And that such things should be found even among the Saints to some degree is scarcely believable, for these are a people who are in possession of many gifts of the Spirit, who have knowledge that puts the eternities into perspective, who have been shown the way to eternal life. Sadly, however, we find that to be shown the way is not necessarily to walk in it, and many have not been able to continue in faith. These have submitted themselves in one degree or another to the enticings of Satan and his servants and joined with those of “the world” in lives of ever‑deepening idolatry.

I use the word idolatry intentionally. As I study ancient scripture, I am more and more convinced that there is significance in the fact that the commandment “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” is the first of the Ten Commandments.  Few men have ever knowingly and deliberately chosen to reject God and his blessings. Rather, we learn from the scriptures that because the exercise of faith has always appeared to be more difficult than relying on things more immediately at hand, carnal man has tended to transfer his trust in God to material things. Therefore, in all ages when men have fallen under the power of Satan and lost the faith, they have put in its place a hope in the “arm of flesh” and in “gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know” (Dan. 5:23) — that is, in idols. This I find to be a dominant theme in the Old Testament. Whatever thing a man sets his heart and his trust in most is his god; and if his god doesn’t also happen to be the true and living God of Israel, that man is laboring in idolatry.  It is my firm belief that when we read these scriptures and try to “liken them unto [our]selves,” as Nephi suggested (1 Ne. 19:24), we will see many parallels between the ancient worship of graven images and behavioral patterns in our very own experience.

The Lord has blessed us as a people with a prosperity unequaled in times past. The resources that have been placed in our power are good, and necessary to our work here on the earth. But I am afraid that many of us have been surfeited with flocks and herds and acres and barns and wealth and have begun to worship them as false gods, and they have power over us. Do we have more of these good things than our faith can stand? Many people spend most of their time working in the service of a self‑image that includes sufficient money, stocks, bonds, investment portfolios, property, credit cards, furnishings, automobiles, and the like to guarantee carnal security throughout, it is hoped, a long and happy life. Forgotten is the fact that our assignment is to use these many resources in our families and quorums to build up the kingdom of God — to further the missionary effort and the genealogical and temple work; to raise our children up as fruitful servants unto the Lord; to bless others in every way, that they may also be fruitful. Instead, we expend these blessings on our own desires, and as Moroni said, “Ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not.” (Morm. 8:39.)

As the Lord himself said in our day, “They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own God, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon,  even Babylon the great, which shall fall.” (D&C 1:16; italics added.)

One man I know of was called to a position of service in the Church, but he felt that he couldn’t accept because his investments required more attention and more of his time than he could spare for the Lord’s work. He left the service of the Lord in search of Mammon, and he is a millionaire today. But I recently learned an interesting fact: If a man owns a million dollars worth of gold at today’s prices, he possesses approximately one 27‑billionth of all the gold that is present in the earth’s thin crust alone. This is an amount so small in proportion as to be inconceivable to the mind of man. But there is more to this: The Lord who created and has power over all the earth created many other earths as well, even “worlds without number” (Moses 1:33); and when this man received the oath and covenant of the priesthood (D&C 84:33–44), he received a promise from the Lord of “all that my Father hath” (D&C 84:38). To set aside all these great promises in favor of a chest of gold and a sense of carnal security is a mistake in perspective of colossal proportions. To think that he has settled for so little is a saddening and pitiful prospect indeed; the souls of men are far more precious than this.

One young man, when called on a mission, replied that he didn’t have much talent for that kind of thing. What he was good at was keeping his powerful new automobile in top condition. He enjoyed the sense of power and acceleration, and when he was driving, the continual motion gave him the  illusion that he was really getting somewhere. All along, his father had been content with saying, “He likes to do things with his hands. That’s good enough for him.”  Good enough for a son of God? This young man didn’t realize that the power of his automobile is infinitesimally small in comparison with the power of the sea, or of the sun; and there are many suns, all controlled by law and by priesthood, ultimately — a priesthood power that he could have been developing in the service of the Lord. He settled for a pitiful god, a composite of steel and rubber and shiny chrome.

An older couple retired from the world of work and also, in effect, from the Church. They purchased a pickup truck and camper and, separating themselves from all obligations, set out to see the world and simply enjoy what little they had accumulated the rest of their days. They had no time for the temple, were too busy for genealogical research and for missionary service. He lost contact with his high priests quorum and was not home enough to work on his personal history. Their experience and leadership were sorely needed in their branch, but, unable to “endure to the end,” they were not available.

I am reminded of an article I read some years ago about a group of men who had gone to the jungles to capture monkeys. They tried a number of different things to catch the monkeys, including nets. But finding that the nets could injure such small creatures, they finally came upon an ingenious solution. They built a large number of small boxes, and in the top of each they bored a hole just large enough for a monkey to get his hand into. They then set these boxes out under the trees and in each one they put a nut that the monkeys were particularly fond of.  When the men left, the monkeys began to come down from the trees and examine the boxes. Finding that there were nuts to be had, they reached into the boxes to get them. But when a monkey would try to withdraw his hand with the nut, he could not get his hand out of the box because his little fist, with the nut inside, was now too large. At about this time, the men would come out of the underbrush and converge on the monkeys. And here is the curious thing: When the monkeys saw the men coming, they would shriek and scramble about with the thought of escaping; but as easy as it would have been, they would not let go of the nut so that they could withdraw their hands from the boxes and thus escape. The men captured them easily.

And so it often seems to be with people, having such a firm grasp on things of the world — that which is telestial — that no amount of urging and no degree of emergency can persuade them to let go in favor of that which is celestial. Satan gets them in his grip easily. If we insist on spending all our time and resources building up for ourselves a worldly kingdom, that is exactly what we will inherit.

In spite of our delight in defining ourselves as modern, and our tendency to think we possess a sophistication that no people in the past ever had — in spite of these things, we are, on the whole, an idolatrous people — a condition most repugnant to the Lord.  We are a warlike people, easily distracted from our assignment of preparing for the coming of the Lord. When enemies rise up, we commit vast resources to the fabrication of gods of stone and steel — ships, planes, missiles,  fortifications — and depend on them for protection and deliverance. When threatened, we become antienemy instead of pro‑kingdom of God; we train a man in the art of war and call him a patriot, thus, in the manner of Satan’s counterfeit of true patriotism, perverting the Savior’s teaching:  “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:44–45.)

We forget that if we are righteous the Lord will either not suffer our enemies to come upon us — and this is the special promise to the inhabitants of the land of the Americas (see 2 Ne. 1:7) — or he will fight our battles for us (Ex. 14:14; D&C 98:37, to name only two references of many). This he is able to do, for as he said at the time of his betrayal, “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt. 26:53.) We can imagine what fearsome soldiers they would King Jehoshaphat and his people were delivered by such a troop (see 2 Chr. 20), and when Elisha’s life was threatened, he comforted his servant by saying, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kgs. 6:16). The Lord then opened the eyes of the servant, “And he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” (2 Kgs. 6:17.)

Enoch, too, was a man of great faith who would not be distracted from his duties by the enemy: “And so great was the faith of Enoch, that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch.” (Moses 7:13.)

What are we to fear when the Lord is with us? Can we not take the Lord at his word and exercise a particle of faith in him? Our assignment is affirmative: to forsake the things of the world as ends in themselves; to leave off idolatry and press forward in faith; to carry the gospel to our enemies, that they might no longer be our enemies.  We must leave off the worship of modern‑day idols and a reliance on the “arm of flesh,” for the Lord has said to all the world in our day, “I will not spare any that remain in Babylon.” (D&C 64:24.)

When Peter preached such a message as this to the people on the day of Pentecost, many of them “were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37.)  And Peter answered: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ¼ receive the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38.)

As we near the year 2,000, our message is the same as that which Peter gave. And further, that which the Lord himself gave “unto the ends of the earth, that all that will hear may hear:  “Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh.” (D&C 1:11–12.)  We believe that the way for each person and each family to prepare as the Lord has directed is to begin to exercise greater faith, to repent, and to enter into the work of his kingdom on earth, which is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints. It may seem a little difficult at first, but when a person begins to catch a vision of the true work, when he begins to see something of eternity in its true perspective, the blessings begin to far outweigh the cost of leaving “the world” behind.  Herein lies the only true happiness, and therefore we invite and welcome all men, everywhere, to join in this work. For those who are determined to serve the Lord at all costs, this is the way to eternal life. All else is but a means to that end.

Happiness opposite Misery

I spend quite a bit of time thinking about the great plan of happiness opposite the awful plan of misery. Here we are, “in the middle,” with agency – the right to choose, and we know a lot about the consequences of our choices. We ARE that we might have JOY – we EXIST in order that we might experience JOY! And that’s the goal of the great plan of happiness. There is fierce opposition. We’re taught there must be opposition in all things. Shooot. I’m sure we can all feel it. Pretty much all the time. The tug of Zion opposite the tug of the world and worldliness. And if we are alert and aware, we can discern the differences, and the consequences. We know how we feel.

Here’s one way I try to “illustrate” it. Let’s have 2 columns. The one on the right (because we are attempting to Choose The Right… CTR) is headed by the word HAPPINESS. The column on the left is headed by the word MISERY. And we could draw a “stick figure” in between – that’s us – that’s you, and that’s mee, and we are “bombarded” with choices our whole life. LOTS of choices every single day. OK – we might write the word OPPOSITION in the middle… right there near where we drew ourselves. Let’s add some words in each column, and then we’re going to have to think/ponder about the reason they are pretty much “exact OPPOSITES.” And we can even be increasingly good at figuring out the CONSEQUENCES.

Under HAPPINESS let’s write “Our Heavenly Father’s Plan.” It has names other than the great plan of happiness, but we’ll stick with that description for now. Under MISERY let’s write “What’s-his-no-face” (representing the one without a body who seeks for everyone to be as miserable as he is … not a great plan, is it). Now let’s write the word FAITH underneath HAPPINESS. And you may already have guessed what I’m suggesting under the other column: DOUBT. Yes… doubt. By now you may be forging ahead without any suggestions from me (which would be an indication you’re thinking! You’re pondering! I love it!). Next under HAPPINESS how about OPTIMISM. And you’re right: under MISERY let’s put PESSIMISM.

From now on I’ll just list two words, and you’ll know where they go. And you can continue making your list as long as you want. Just remember to go back and PONDER what you’ve written, and carefully consider what your choices – your exercise of AGENCY – can bring into your heart, your soul, your life.  Here we go (I’ll just suggest a few more, and then OFF YOU GO!):

GRATITUDE / COMPLAINING. LIGHT / DARKNESS. GOOD / EVIL. Does all of this seem too “black and white?” Well… we can consider the space in between the two columns. Kind of “misty,” isn’t it (can you see that?… or imagine that?)… things get kind of blurred. Sometimes we may have to think hard to decide which choice is the right one for us. We may need some meaningful experiences with prayer – with communicating with our Heavenly Father and seeking His guidance.

Here are some more possibilities:  LOVE / INDIFFERENCE (you might write HATE, and that’s a “ponderable”). PEACE / ANXIETY.  THOUGHT-FULL / THOUGHT-LESS. Can you tell I could go on and on (and have)? This has been, and continues to be, an interesting, meaningful thing for me to focus on from time to time. I feel like I’ve given you some “homework;” hope you don’t mind.  Let me know what you come up with. Have a wonderful Sabbath Day!  Love, MEE

WildThinkingCap

27 June 1844

Joseph-Hyrum-HorsesJoseph-Hyrum-Statues Joseph-Hyrum

Today is an anniversary. One that is not the kind you celebrate with a party or something. It’s the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He and his brother Hyrum were shot to death by a mob in Carthage, Illinois. One comforting thought I’ve always had about this tragic event is that they were welcomed HOME by the Savior. They had both lived lives of incredible faithfulness and obedience. My third great grandmother, Martha Clarissa Browning (eventually Middleton) was a little girl in Nauvoo when it happened, and she recalled seeing Joseph and Emma riding their horses, and how friendly and kind they always were. She remembers that her sisters took her to the Mansion House to see the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum after they were brought from Carthage back to Nauvoo. I love to sing “Praise to the Man.” And I love knowing that “millions will know Brother Joseph again.” I know I’ll see him, and it will make me feel so happy that he will know I never had any doubt about anything he taught — I have a deep conviction that he was truly a Prophet and that through him everything we need in order to return HOME to our Heavenly Parents has been restored. This is a day to remember, and to be deeply grateful.

More mail from AARP

I wish this could be in technicolor.  But know it can’t I’ll strive to be content with just telling you about it.  It was addressed to me. Via MEE-Mail. “Fei: Get more of what you want from your AARP. Share your interests. Subscribe to e-newsletters. Welcome Fei! [That was in BIG letters] Thanks for being part of AARP. You’ll discover there’s more to your membership than you might expect. Including a network of people, tools and information connecting you to the best of what we have to offer. AARP is your ally on issues that matter most to you. So go ahead – discover your real possibilities below and in future emails.”     Enough said. MEE is on thin ice . . . .

THIS JUST IN

WISCONSIN CITY BARS USE OF KANGAROOS AS SERVICE ANIMALS

BEAVER DAM, Wis. — Jun 17, 2015, 8:17 AM ET / AP

Officials have changed a southeastern Wisconsin city’s rules on service animals after a woman took a baby kangaroo into a McDonald’s restaurant. The Beaver Dam Daily Citizen reports the city’s Common Council voted 14-0 Monday night to define a service animal as a dog or miniature horse, but not a kangaroo. Police can cite people who try to use other animals. Beaver Dam police say the woman wrapped the baby kangaroo in a blanket and tucked it in an infant car seat, then took it inside a McDonald’s in February. The woman has said the kangaroo is a therapy animal to help her cope with emotional distress. City Attorney Maryann Schacht says the changes comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.